Preliminary hearing set for former patrolman accused of fraud

A preliminary hearing was set on Monday for sometime early next month for the Macomb police officer who was accused of using a separate individual's Illinois Link card and writing a check to himself from their checking account.

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By Jackie SmithEditor

The McDonough County Voice

By Jackie SmithEditor

Posted Aug. 12, 2014 at 10:38 AM

By Jackie SmithEditor
Posted Aug. 12, 2014 at 10:38 AM

MACOMB

A preliminary hearing was set on Monday for sometime early next month for the Macomb police officer who was accused of using a separate individual's Illinois Link card and writing a check to himself from their checking account.

Charged with two counts of forgery and one count state benefit fraud, now former MPD officer, Bill Kennedy, 35, of Blandinsville appeared in McDonough County Circuit Court Monday. He allegedly wrote a check from another man's checking account payable to himself in the amount of $5,000 tendered to a branch of United Community Bank in Macomb, according to court records.

Kennedy is also alleged to have applied for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits, court documents say, stating it was for the benefit of the same man, who was ineligible due to being in a nursing home, to obtain benefits not in excess of $300.

Kennedy was first arrested July 28 after a complaint surfaced about month earlier to the Macomb Police Department. Following the department's own internal investigation, Illinois State Police investigators too looked into the complaint and made the arrest.

He'd been placed on paid suspension during the investigation. Two days after his arrest, the officer handed in his letter of resignation. According to the local FOP labor agreement, a contract last ratified in May 2013, a dayshift patrolman with nine years of service like Kennedy had a salary of $53,210.

Forgery is a Class 3 felony punishable from two to five years in prison and two years mandatory supervised released, and state benefit fraud is a Class 4 felony punishable by one to three years and one year mandatory supervised release.

Kennedy will next be in court at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 8.

Reach Jackie Smith via email at jsmith@McDonoughVoice.com, or follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.